Being now 80 !!! I was a Blue, when we drank everything in BOWLS in Dining Hall, these were quite thick and heavy, it took some time to learn the tecnique, of 1st and 2nd finger with thumb.
Everything liquid was "KIFF" which was supposed to derive from the Greek KOPHOS,---- a drink of uncertain origin !
This may not be so, but is a good joke !
I didn't do Greek --- being one of those Geography Deps, who numbered 5 of the first Rugby 15 in our last year, not, you will understand, academics ----but do not mess !
In my first term I had a "Nursemaid" do these still exist ? mine was a chap called LUCY,( his surname , I hasten to add.0 I think he went on, like myself, to the Army, and id very well, --- are you still out there ? or do we need a seance ?

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote: mine was a chap called LUCY,( his surname , I hasten to add

My heart genuinely bleeds for the poor so and so. I sense another thread starting...

My wife's maiden name can difficult for a Brit to pronounce. Her cousin, with the same surname, was a teacher at Barking Technical College and, to save all the usual problems, instructed his pupils to call him "Mr Lucy"

Just think, if Africa had more mosquito nets, it would save millions of innocent mosquitoes from dying needlessly of AIDS.”

In My day (the 40s) Trades consisted of : Laying out the crockery etc. Collecting meals, from the tables set up at the end of each House and Manned (Or Womaned) by a lady in Kitchen uniform, The Trades served these meals, in seniority order from the top of the House table and ALSO the two Monitors, at the lower end of the table. Clearing up after the "Second Knock" (Do we still have that ?) and taking the dirtys to the kitchens.
Related to that, I was tripped, deliberately, by a Senior and sprawled on the floor, dirty plates and all ! I said (Loudly) "Ill have you for that !" and in the dormitory, that night, I blacked his eye. --- I should explain that I was brought up in Stockwell, and even at 12 was "Handy"
The following day, I iwas "FOTCHED" (Used no more presumeably !) A slap across the face, bya Senior Senior, "You do not strike Seniors !"
Does anybody remember "FOTCHED" ?
I'll get my coat --- if I can remember where I put it !

I always thought that "fotched" was a rap on the head with the knuckle of the middle finger.
I forget who it was but he had a long reach and could get you from a sitting position at the bottom of the table in Dining Hall.
In Barnes B, if memory serves me, the House captain and 2 house monitors sat at the top of the table and the rest of the house monitors at the bottom, one or maybe two of whom served the food.
The same monitor who "fotched" me also split a plate with a serving spoon when he brought it down too hard when serving something.

As indicated in my other post, most Housey slang has now gone. Bockers (gone), Lav Ends (going as Lav Ends do not exist anymore), Kiff (never used in my time) ... i really cannot think of any word that is Housey only anymore other than words such as Housey, Broady, Rolls...ermmm!